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#88021 - 01/25/08 10:05 AM Osprey Crescent 75 questions
mmccarthy7220 Offline
newbie

Registered: 09/17/07
Posts: 2
Hi I just won an Osprey Crescent75 on Ebay which I'm very excited about. They seem to get great reviews. Are there any issues that any of you have seen or heard of with this pack? Is it a good all-round volume sized pack? Thanks for your opinions, Mike

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#88022 - 01/30/08 05:46 PM Re: Osprey Crescent 75 questions [Re: mmccarthy7220]
Brumfield Offline
member

Registered: 12/23/07
Posts: 255
Loc: Expat from New Orleans, now in...
Great! You'll like the Osprey pack. The Crescent models were made up till 2006, I believe, and from all the reviews I've read, they are quality packs. Their suspension system is well designed.

Here are some reviews:

http://www.trailspace.com/gear/osprey/crescent-70/

http://www.backcountry.com/store/OSP0034/Osprey-Packs-Crescent-70-Backpack-4700cu-in.html

I've been needing a new pack and researched them for a couple of weeks. I decided that Osprey, North Face, and Arc'teryx are the top of the line due to design quality and utility. I searched Ebay for a few days, even bid on some packs, (I lost) and couldn't find what I wanted, so I bit the bullet and bought a new one just today. I ordered a new Osprey Argon 85 in the color Kelp Green and I feel like it's Christmas!

For how much did you "win" the Crescent ? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> B

Here's a link to the Osprey site:
http://www.ospreypacks.com/Packs/ArgonSeriesMens/Argon85/
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#88023 - 01/31/08 05:21 AM Re: Osprey Crescent 75 questions [Re: Brumfield]
Pika Online   content
member

Registered: 12/08/05
Posts: 1814
Loc: Rural Southeast Arizona
I have a Crescent 75 that I use when I have to haul heavy loads. It is an excellent pack but is heavy. Mine, including the removable fanny pack top and the small add-on pack for the center back weighs nearly eight pounds; about the same as a gallon of water. About the only time I use it now is when I need to haul more than two days worth of water and then I use it in stripped mode without the two additional "packs" in place.
_________________________
May I walk in beauty.

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#88024 - 02/02/08 05:44 AM Re: Osprey Crescent 75 questions [Re: mmccarthy7220]
BradMT Offline
member

Registered: 08/23/04
Posts: 151
Hi, congrat's!

The Crescent 75 was made through 2004. I've had the Crescent 75 and currently have a Crescent 60 and Crescent 90... to me the 75 is an ideal "all-around" one pack, pack and very stoutly made.

I've been carrying internal frames exclusively since 1978 and have owned all the "major" packs. For my body, the Osprey Crescent line was/is the hand's down most comfortable pack ever made. Very rugged too! The Bora 80 is a close second for me, but not as stoutly built and I don't like the rear pocket.

Yeah the Crescent's are heavy but to me, a pack with a "real suspension" doesn't translate into ounces and pounds because of its comfort in carrying even light loads. Comfort = refreshed at the end of the day, not tortured. I like to pare away ounces anywhere and everywhere EXCEPT in a pack's suspension! The Crescent 60 weighs 6 lbs 7 oz's and the 90 weighs 7 lbs 6 oz's... I really don't care!

The ounce paring game is fun but I really think some folks don't know what they're missing with a properly fitted, comfortable pack. Have yet to see an UL pack that carries like a Crescent.

YMMV of course.
_________________________
There Is No Bad Weather, Just Bad Clothing...

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#88025 - 02/03/08 11:25 AM Re: Osprey Crescent 75 questions [Re: BradMT]
Brumfield Offline
member

Registered: 12/23/07
Posts: 255
Loc: Expat from New Orleans, now in...
Absolutely, Brad, I agree, a well made pack that weighs 2 lbs more than a poorly made pack will ease your load. We should compromise on a few things to save weight, but not when it will add to our burdens. Quality of suspension, load balancing capability, ergonomically designed hip belts, etc, will add ounces, but these well thought out and engineered features also add up to comfort when carrying heavy loads hours on end. Go for quality of functional design, and don't worry about the pound or two of extra weight. Now, I'll admit, the ten pound packs are a bit extreme. Brum
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#88026 - 02/03/08 12:36 PM Re: Osprey Crescent 75 questions [Re: Brumfield]
Paddy_Crow Offline
member

Registered: 11/08/04
Posts: 2285
Loc: Michigan
Seven pounds seems extreme when you get used to carrying a two pound pack with a total load under 25 pounds. I'll die before I'll strap another seven pounder to my back.

I think the point is that a UL pack doesn't have to carry like a heavyweight.

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#88027 - 02/03/08 05:49 PM Re: Osprey Crescent 75 questions [Re: Paddy_Crow]
Brumfield Offline
member

Registered: 12/23/07
Posts: 255
Loc: Expat from New Orleans, now in...
Paddy_Crow wrote: "I think the point is that a UL pack doesn't have to carry like a heavyweight"

Of course not, just don't load them up with heavy gear... Ultralight was easy when I hiked the national park trails in the US. I averaged a 25 lb load using a Equinox Katahdin that weighed in at just over 1.50 lbs. Anything I needed that I didn't want to haul around, I just bought from one of the resorts, camp supply or convenience stores when I came across them. I could also beg, buy, or borrow supplies from the hundreds of other hikers in the parks. No problem.

It's a different world down here, if you attempt to go UL, you will suffer for it. Even in the Mexican National parks such as Barranca del Cobre, (twice as large and deeper in places than the Grand Canyon) you're pretty much on your own. No stores, no park rangers, and nobody to kick but yourself if you forget something important back home. In Mexico, if you don't bring it with you, you'll probably have to do without it. Backpacking the jungles here demands self sufficiency with no excuses. I like being totally self sufficient when I'm backpacking, it just feels right.

Now I use a pack in the 5300 to 6700 cu. in. range and hang a lot of things on it too. I love the preparation of my backpack before a week or longer hike. I have my pack contents down to a science. I even measure out quantities of toiletries, chlorine dioxide, and dish and laundry soap, etc, by the gram. I know exactly how many grams of each item I'll need per day. No more, no less. I save, clean, and store away all sizes and shapes of plastic bottles, from one ounce to 32 ounce capacity. That way I can use the smallest and lightest bottle to hold liquids for the exact number of days I'll be gone. I sent out an email a while back to my friends asking them to save empty plastic bottles for me...I'll never have to buy another Nalgene. If zip lock bags and rubber bands suddenly quit working due to sunspots or some other oddity, my pack will explode. I use them by the dozens to avoid heavier containers. Brum
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#88028 - 02/04/08 05:13 AM Re: Osprey Crescent 75 questions [Re: Brumfield]
Paddy_Crow Offline
member

Registered: 11/08/04
Posts: 2285
Loc: Michigan
Quote:
Of course not, just don't load them up with heavy gear...


I don't own any heavy gear and if I have to carry a 50 pound pack, I'm not going.

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#88029 - 02/10/08 03:41 PM Re: Osprey Crescent 75 questions [Re: Paddy_Crow]
Brumfield Offline
member

Registered: 12/23/07
Posts: 255
Loc: Expat from New Orleans, now in...
Quote:
Quote:
Of course not, just don't load them up with heavy gear...


I don't own any heavy gear and if I have to carry a 50 pound pack, I'm not going.


Paddy, what are the three heaviest pieces of gear that you carry? Mine comes in in this order::
North Face Cat's Meow Sleeping bag - 46 oz (2 lb 14 oz)
Clark Tropical Jungle Hammock and tarp - 45 oz (2 lbs 13 oz)
Therm-a-Rest air mat - 33 oz (2 lb 1 oz)

Of course, the food and water always win out for most weight. I'm a big guy, 225 lbs and 6ft, so I average carrying 2 lbs per day in food. A week long trip can add as much as 14 POUNDS to my pack, just for food. UGH! Another 64 ounces of water are always on my back too.

My total gear, water, and food weight this next trip will be 821 ounces ( 51.81 lbs ). I used to carry around 30 lbs, I think this stuff is growing or breeding or something in the pack at night ... Brum
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#88030 - 02/11/08 05:39 PM Re: Osprey Crescent 75 questions [Re: Brumfield]
Paddy_Crow Offline
member

Registered: 11/08/04
Posts: 2285
Loc: Michigan
Primary pieces of my three season kit:

1) Big Agnes Horse Thief sleeping bag - 28 ounces
2) Big Agnes air core pad - 22 ounces
3) Shires Cloudburst Tarptent - 38 ounces
4) Mountainsmith Ghost pack - 34 ounces

Total of these four items is 122 ounces (7 lb 10 oz). I could go lighter, but it's light enough for my knees. Plus the Cloudburst gives me room for myself and my dog.

I'm 5'10" and 170 lbs, I try to carry about 4500 calories of food per day. My normal diet is less than that, but I burn more on the trail.

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#88031 - 02/12/08 01:43 PM Re: Osprey Crescent 75 questions [Re: Paddy_Crow]
Brumfield Offline
member

Registered: 12/23/07
Posts: 255
Loc: Expat from New Orleans, now in...
Paddy_Crow wrote:

Primary pieces of my three season kit:

1) Big Agnes Horse Thief sleeping bag - 28 ounces
2) Big Agnes air core pad - 22 ounces
3) Shires Cloudburst Tarptent - 38 ounces
4) Mountainsmith Ghost pack - 34 ounces

Total of these four items is 122 ounces (7 lb 10 oz). I could go lighter, but it's light enough for my knees. Plus the Cloudburst gives me room for myself and my dog.

Brumfield wrote:

Re: Winner of the lightest gear award!

Paddy, all of your gear listed here weighs only about one pound more than what my empty pack does. We should change your user name to Paddy_Ethereal _Crow. Good for you, wish I could get away with gear so light.

A warning though, summiting with gear that light could be dangerous.. when reaching the peak, slow your ascension way down, or you could just float away... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Brum
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#88032 - 02/12/08 02:34 PM Re: Osprey Crescent 75 questions [Re: Brumfield]
Paddy_Crow Offline
member

Registered: 11/08/04
Posts: 2285
Loc: Michigan
There are plenty on this site who would look at my list and tell me how I could take another 2-3 pounds out of those four pieces of gear.

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